OH TO BE BACK IN 1979

Amazing that forty years has passed by since the two hundredth running of the Epsom Derby. And how the shape of the sport has changed since, for the threat of the betting public being weaned off horse racing could not even be spotted on the distant horizon back then, so ludicrous it would have sounded.

Having a look back at that pleasing renewal one factor that springs to mind and which cannot be emphasised enough is how the appearance of any sport is made more appealing by the jam being spread around, with more unrelated factions, cliques, call them dynasties even, in opposition.

Yes of course, one rare development for the better in the last two decades is the willingness of the powerhouses to field their in-house big guns against each other, increasing their hand but sometimes upsetting their own apple-cart, as for example when Wings Of Eagles, by a sire who had recently been downgraded to 'dual purpose', came out the clouds to beat Cliffs Of Moher.

In fact the one part of the sport that is now better than it was, is that we are long passed the height of the ridiculous hype period where there was an obsession with being involved with a colt with a near as to unbeaten record as possible.

Ironically, this at the very same time North America had recently endured a golden period full of equine superstars whose connections saw no shame in the odd defeat. All those great household names got beat now and again.

The Maktoums were not exempt from protecting some of their best. Lammtara was a cracking good top class colt but his unbeaten record did not turn him into an all time great. Similar with the molly coddling of Shareef Dancer after his explosive Curragh performance. And we never did ever get to see the Nashwan clash with Old Vic.

Ideally though, it would be immeasurably beneficial for the image of the sport if fate would deem the top cards were dealed as wide as they were during the 1970's. That however is not going to happen anytime soon. 

The 1979 Derby fielded twenty five runners. Only one owner was represented by more than one runner. Tony Shead's green and black stripes and green sleeves were carried by three horses all with Barry Hills.

Steve Cauthen was aboard the surprise  2,000 Guineas hero Tap On Wood. Fellow American legend Bill Shoemaker was on the Chester Vase winner Cracaval , while Ernie Johnson was on Two Of Diamonds, sired by Blakeney who Johnson himself had partnered to win the race.

Only one trainer apart from Hills had more than a single runner. Major Hern saddled the Queen's Lingfield Derby Trial winner Milford, along with Sir Michael Sobel's Guardian Classic Trial and Predominate  Stakes winner Troy.

It was originally believed that Milford was the more favoured of the two and some were surprised that Carson chose to ride Troy, with Lester picking up the ride on Milford.

Troy had been impressive at Goodwood but there was no substance to the form, although he had been one of the top juveniles so if he stayed, he was bang in there. Interesting though that the esteemed Tim Fitzgeorge-Parker ( is there a single journalist left in the sport that could command such a description now !) writing in the June edition of Pacemaker asked, " will a son of Petingo stay a true run Derby ?".

On the back of Hill's Yankee the previous year, Michael Stoute was represented by his second runner in the race with the Sir Gordon White owned Hardgreen. Henry Cecil was represented by the Dante winner Lyphard's Wish, Peter Walwyn and Pat Eddery , just four years on from Grundy, would be teaming up for the last time in the race with the Glasgow Stakes winner New Berry.

M.V. O'Brien was responsible for the long priced Accomplice, (who was linked to one of the memories of the race with that slapstick image of his jockey Yves St Martin bearing an unfurled toilet roll thrown from the crowd in the home straight), with Ireland also represented by the Curragh 2,000 Guineas winner Dicken's Hill, and Noelino who had won the race now called the Derrinstown.

In an open renewal the Guy Harwood trained Ela Mana Mou, who had been an impressive winner of the Heath Stakes, started favourite with Greville Starkey aboard. The Pulborough yard had been on a marked upward path in the past twelve months which would take it to the summit during the 1980's.

This memorable renewal, fitting for the race's double century anniversary, is all in the archives now ( and You Tube), and rarely can the form have worked out so well in the future.

But even those who like to stamp on rose tinted spectacles can hardly fail to grasp how much more absorbing the event was back in that relatively recent day with any number of trainers and owners having realistic hopes of taking the Blue Riband.

A further point, in the 1979 field twenty four different stallions were represented. Only Mount Hagen was represented by more than one runner in the shape of Dicken's Hill and Cracaval.

Massive stallion books were some way off being manageable and Northern Dancer had only the Francois Boutin trained Northern Baby to represent him. And forming a link with an age before, Michael Jarvis's Man Of Vision was sired by Lester's first Derby winner Never Say Die.

On the subject of Northern Dancer. These were the days of carefully selected stallion books where the there was difficulty in obtaining nominations. The big guns had to fight tooth and nail, often going past their original valuations to get hold of his progeny.

Going into 1979, Horses In Training listed M. V . O'Brien with seventy horses in training. Amongst the five older horses which included the Thatch colt Thatching, who would be the sprinting star of the season, there were no Northern Dancers. From the twenty six three year olds the great stallion had three representatives, and from the twenty seven two year olds, he was represented four times.

A universe away from the present scenario with a general picture of hordes of Galileo's in one corner, facing up against hordes of Dubawi's in the other.

Listen to the talk in the workplace's up and down the country. A Champion's League final, Europa League Final, the Joshua fight in Madison Square Gardens, and the Cricket World Cup, all creating a situation where the Epsom event can easily pass by unnoticed.

It's been like this for a long time now. Grand Prix practice has a bigger following than racing, and in the football is God world so to do programmes where they just sit and speak about transfer speculation and rumours.

There has been an increasing call for the Derby to be returned to it's original Wednesday slot. Problem is those supporting such a move have no clout and the mature racing fans will not be around to see it happen, if it ever does.

So we'll just have to stop moaning and try to enjoy the sport as best we can.

image June 1979 cover of Pacemaker International

STUFF RACING, HOW ABOUT A DAY AT THE GOLF ?

The ambience was uncomplicated, basic, but enjoyable all the same. That was when Chester racecourse set a manageable fixture list that predated the corporate rot that has set in and ruined the rare delights of the venue.

For how times have changed. It is now arguably, in the wrong sense, the 'trendiest' venue in the sport whose race-days are set up to attract the cult crowds who are made up of a high percentage of dressed in their best characters who come for the social occasion as opposed to being drawn there by any feel for, or rooted interest in the sport.

It has for many years now been in chic to attend this racecourse. Sadly for those of us who remember the venue how it was in the mid 1970's, the whole day has now become an ordeal.

The ground level view, once amongst the most unrestricted in the country is now mostly obstructed by corporate fittings and ten a penny trashy structures.The racecourse staff are invariably brusque , giving the impression they are revelling in their role and on the lookout for easy targets.This is something that is noted by an increasing number of people.

In fact, one racing forum contained a report of a life long racegoer being questioned as to why he was carrying binoculars ! This is what it is actually coming to. If you don't fit the images of those photographed for the brochures then there is nothing down for you.

Ironic thing is, if an issue needs to be addressed involving individuals that visually look capable of being physically threatening, these guardians of the course will likely look the other way rather than do the job they are paid for. It makes a mockery of so many of them being employed and acting so intrusively on the grounds of public safety.

God help anyone nowadays walking around the course equipped with Raceform loose leaf, a Timeform Black Book, and  pair of large old fashioned bins. A pint in each hand and a swagger - no problem at all.

But we do weather the downside to have at least a day at the May meeting as the jigsaw puzzle to the classics is steadily assembled. Having Vase and the Oaks on the same card, with fields that looked as though they may impact on the Epsom races, was irresistible to keep away from and from a racing point of view quite fascinating.

There have been many memorable Chester Vase days. The day Shergar confirmed the impression he had created in the Guardian Classic Trial, when following up even more impressively. Earlier on that  card Piggott was seen at his best, forcing the Cecil trained Sacrilege ahead as four flashed across the line with a fast finishing Cauthen ridden animal just failing by inches to get up.

Sacrilege carried the Jim Joel colours having been purchased from David Oldrey and transferred from Peter Walwyn's yard to Warren Place, chiefly to act as a pacemaker for the previous year's St Leger winner Light Cavalry. He was only seen once more later in the month before sustaining an injury.

There was a link from this day to the King George V1 Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes later in the year when Piggott riding Light Cavalry, let out a trapped in Swinburn on Shergar.

The other Vase day that stands out is four years later when Law Society, with Vincent O'Brien present, beat the tank like Petoski. The hype beforehand was all about the Wood Ditton winner Miller's Mate. Swinburn was under suspension so Piggott stepped in for the ride on the Stoute trained colt as he had done on Shadeed in the 2,000 Guineas.

The colt was under pressure trying to close the gap on Law Society when he broke down entering the straight. The dreaded screens went up but they got him into the horse ambulance and he was eventually saved. Miller's Mate did go on to leave a legacy to the sport. In a low profile stud career he sired a lightly raced mare called Katday, who ended up being the dam of a certain Best Mate.

Fast forward to 2019, Vase and Oaks on the same day but renewals that could possibly contain big players for the months ahead. It was worth the ordeal of suffering the 'Chester experience' though there is little inclination to go again for the year.

The opening day of the British Masters Golf fell on the second day of Chester but there was only one place to be. Those of us who watch this sport week in week out on our screens love our rare visits to watch it live.

As some of us have never played this game there are aspects of the spectator experience that we don't pick up. Being able to spot the ball in air from the drive, either from standing by the player or from a ball approaching the green is a struggle.Your strike rate of zoning in on the ascending or descending ball is ten percent at best.

You invariably stand by knowledgeable fans who play the game themselves and who give a commentary of the path of the ball in flight and where the shot has gone right or wrong.You nod and hum and ha in agreement.

But being being amongst those who are die hard fans of the sport, who make up the vast majority of the on course audiences, opens your eyes to all what is wrong with horse racing. The attitude, understanding and enthusiasm for their sport is at complete loggerheads to the characters that form the majority of the attendees at the 'cult' racecourses.

For anyone who has never struck a golf ball, punting on the sport is your ticket in to a tournament. It makes you feel part of it. Most of the enthusiasts present at Hillside would look down scornfully at this approach. And rightly so too.

But racing followers who remember how the sport was in the days of the uncluttered fixture lists where the racing could be anticipated and digested, when betting was 95% about horse racing, and when the majority of those attending the racecourses actually cared about the sport; are a tad bit jealous of these golf fans.

CHERISH WHAT WE HAVE

Imagine the uproar if the editorial team of Motor Sport suggested that to spice up the Grand  Prix season they should have a race where the drivers have to swap cars with a rival team halfway through the race, or if Golf Digest called for a regular PGA Tour event to trial a rule where the players tee off by firing the ball from a catapult.

All stupidity and nonsense of course, which is why it is baffling that there has been no stir in response to the Racing Post piece last week where members of the staff came up with ideas for attracting a fresh betting audience to offset the hit the sport is predicted to take from the loss of FOBT revenue.

Leaving aside the long embedded idea of racing forming its own variations of being its own bookmaker, be it an exchange or tote, some of the suggestions were ludicrous and move the focus away from what makes the sport so attractive and which has played a part in maintaining its longevity.

The daftest one of all was to trial 'relay races' in the 'pass the baton' sense. The idea was that there would be no harm trying it, nothing gained nothing lost with no damage inflicted if it didn't prove popular.

This is forgetting that such nonsense actually demeans the sport. We already know that the on course crowd at the likes of Chester and Haydock would respond positively to this, but if none of them are going to be regular horse racing punters as a result of their day put in the sun then it's been a waste of time as well as risking forming the final straw for those who like racing for the right reasons and have been racing punters for life.

There seems to be a focus across society at the moment to consider and address the needs of the emerging generations who will be inheriting the world. What is rarely considered is that people change as they mature, and in general are slower growing up than ever before.

Those adults immersed into the hippy flower power cults who believed they would turn the world into some eternally peaceful oasis ended up finally growing up aged thirty five and becoming materialistic, returning to their often luxuriant lives. 

So too did those caught up in the punk revolution. Doing the pogo and spitting on the live bands and years later, when of grown up adult age, still believing that a revolution would be possible whereby the punks sporting anarchist symbols on the back of their jackets would inhabit 10 Downing Street- they now own houses, cars and holiday in America, Australia and the like.  

The point is, if twenty and thirty somethings mapped out the path horse racing should go, then there would be a risk of the sport being done irreparable damage by a succession of hair brained ideas, that those who engineered them would look back on one day and cringe with regret.

It is disturbing that there exists an increasing tendency within the sport to point the finger of blame at what many believe to be tradition holding back progress. Practical and realistic people know that the customs and traditions allied to a calendar that has many similarities to one hundred and fifty years ago, is something the sport should be shouting proudly from the rooftops.

Instead, many are shifting too much emphasis on the incorrect belief that racing is trapped in a time bubble, as a chief reason why the shortfall from FOBT revenue will not be met without radical change.

The sport is not trapped, rather there is not too much wrong with the way it is apart from some injudicious changes  for change sake, such as the switching around of some significant late season races like the Champion Stakes to Ascot, the Royal Lodge to Newmarket, with no notable benefit to the sport.

Too many people, some with influence and clout, fiddle impatiently wanting to trial out their ideas,  ill -thought or not, as they believe doing nothing is damaging the game.

It would be wiser to take stock and accept that racing has been on the decline for several years in the face of the  maintained popularity of rival sports, some of which are thriving on an unprecedented level due to television media coverage not previously seen before.

Moreover, betting opportunities on these sports exist on a daily and weekly basis. It does not seem like that long ago when you could not place a golf bet outside of the four majors. Same with Tennis. And we all remember the minimum five on the long list on the fixed odds, save the minimum three on a short list compiled of the most difficult matches.

It is surprising that newspaper editors still give as much page space to the sport on a daily basis. The Saturday pull outs relay a false impression. They are subsidised by bookmaker adverts and the sport is often lost in the mix of across the board general sports coverage on that day anyway. 

Horse racing will not in 2019 offer a sporting moment to match Tiger Woods's Masters triumph but we've had a fascinating national hunt period, topped off by an absorbing renewal of the Punchestown Gold Cup that would have delighted every connoisseur. For the time being the importance of the race was half deflected by Ruby Walsh announcing his retirement straight after, but as we switch to flat mode, this race was the parting memory and already wets the appetite for next season.

We are now fully switched on to the flat, are digesting all that happened at the Guineas meeting, hope that the tough brute of an animal that passed the post first in the Kentucky Derby has the reversal overturned, and look forward to the racing at Chester this week, though many of those going will dread being among the swathes of suited attendees whose demeanour accords more to a June or July Saturday rather than this jewel in the crown meeting for the course.

It's a marked out road, a turf racing calendar that follows the same route year in year out but with not much that needs fixing. It may have to downsize but that is a damn sight better than the prospect of self destruction through unnecessary change.

image by Redmond and Campbell - CC licence